Fire fighter water manifold

ABSTRACT

Fire hose manifolds and systems are provided by this invention which include a high pressure chamber having a large inlet opening and a plurality of small outlet openings therein. A first coupling means is provided for making fluid communication between the large inlet opening and a source of pressurized water, and a second coupling means is provided for making fluid connection between a portion of the outlet openings and a fluid conduit. The fire manifolds of this invention are light weight and include quick disconnect couplings for providing emergency access to a water source for the treatment of fires and hazardous material zones.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to water connections suitable for fire fightingapplications, and more particularly, to manifolded systems fordistributing water to hazardous material sites.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fire fighting units have increasingly been called upon to aid in thecontainment and clean-up of hazardous material sites (also referred toherein as "HAZMAT" areas or sites). Typically, HAZMAT area formatsinclude a "hot zone" around the spill which is marked or roped off tocontain the area. The hot zone is restricted to the entry team only andis accessible by a single entrance way, so that remnants from the spillon the boots and other personal protective equipment of the firefighters can be contained properly. The hot zone is surrounded by amarked off "warm zone" which is restricted to other fire fightingpersonnel and members of the support crew. Bystanders are required tostand in a "cold-zone" which is marked off a safe distance from thepotentially toxic effects of the spill.

In an effort to prevent the contamination of areas outside the hot zone,clean-up stations have been provided near the hot zone entryway so thatthe personal protective equipment of the fire fighter can be washedthoroughly, before he or she is permitted access to the warm zone. Theseshower stations have typically been supplied with water by standard firefighting industry 1.5 inch fire hoses, which are usually reinforced andcontain porous fabric exteriors that readily absorb contaminants. Oncecontaminated, these hoses must either be professionally cleaned ordestroyed, both at great expense to the often limitedly funded firecompany or municipality.

Accordingly, there is a need for a more inexpensive water supply systemfor providing required cleaning water to shower stations containedwithin the hot zone of HAZMAT decontamination areas. There is also aneed for a more disposable and versatile conduit for supplying water tofire fighting applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides fire hose manifolds suitable for emergencyimplementation by fire fighters. These manifolds include a high pressurechamber having a large inlet opening and a plurality of small outletopenings therein. The large inlet opening is equipped with a firstcoupling means for selectively providing fluid communication to a sourceof pressurized water. A second coupling means is also provided forpermitting fluid communication between a portion of the outlet openingsand a fluid conduit.

Accordingly, the fire hose manifolds and systems of this inventionprovide efficient water distribution to fire fighters treating hazardousdecontamination zones. A single device which is easily stored on a firetruck is provided for reducing a standard fire hose or fire hydrant intomultiple garden hose outlets. The device is small enough for storagerequirements, light weight, and configured so as to not waste hoselength. It is also equipped with an adequate supply of outlets toprovide simultaneous operation without substantial loss in operatingpressure. The fire hose manifolds of this invention preferably reduce astandard size fire fighting hose into four, individually-controlled,quick connecting garden hose outlets. This produces a time- andmoney-saving operation in the set-up and break-down of hazardousmaterial zones and personnel decontamination stations. The supply hoseand manifold are designed to remain outside the contamination zone. Thisallows expensive fire hoses to remain clear of the contamination, whileeasier to maneuver and less expensive garden hoses are introduced intothe contamination zone for entry team washdown operations. Accordingly,if the garden hose is contaminated, it is much easier and less costly todestroy and replace than cleaning or replacing the standard firefighting hose.

In more detailed embodiments of this invention, a fire hose manifoldsystem for emergency implementation in and around a hazardous materialzone is provided. This system includes a high pressure chamber having anopening defined by a fire hose coupling and a plurality of outlet tubesextending from the high pressure chamber. The outlet tubes includeindividual connector couplings for connecting to at least one smallhose. The small hose is designed to be used within the hot zone of thehazardous material area, so that expensive fire hose equipment is notcontaminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention as well as other information pertinent to the disclosure, andin which:

FIG. 1: is a side elevation view of a preferred fire hose manifold ofthis invention;

FIG. 2: is a elevation view of a preferred outlet end of the fire hosemanifold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: is a elevation view of the preferred inlet end of the fire hosemanifold of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4: is a schematic view of a preferred fire hose manifold beingemployed in a hazardous material zone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fire hose manifolds and manifold systems are provided by this inventionwhich include high pressure chambers fluidly connected to first andsecond coupling means for providing both access to a fire hydrant orfire hose at an inlet end, and to one or more fluid conduits at anoutlet end. As used herein the term "high pressure" includes pressuresof about 5-90 psi, more preferably about 50-80 psi, and in certainapplications, up to about 250 psi. Such pressures can conveniently bemonitored with pressure gauges, preferably dials mounted on the manifolditself.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3 there is shown a preferred fire hosemanifold 55 having a unique arrangement of fittings and valves forpermitting emergency implementation by fire fighters during hazardousmaterial contamination or other fire fighting tasks. The manifold 55includes a high pressure chamber 13 having a large inlet opening and aplurality of small outlet openings.

The high pressure chamber 13 preferably includes a water- andrust-resistant body 18 capable of communicating with a high pressurewater source. Acceptable materials for the body 18 include, for example,cast iron, stainless steel, bronze, brass, and high strength resins,such as epoxy and nylon. Such resins are typically reinforced with glassor other fibers. In the preferred embodiment described in FIG. 1, a 2.5inch size, schedule 40 black iron pipe, having a length of about 10inches is utilized for the body 18. This iron pipe is threaded at oneend with a National Taper Pipe (NTP) thread. Preferably, the body 18 iscapped with an end plug 11 made from the same material as the highpressure chamber. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a 0.25 inchthick steel plate was employed.

At the inlet end of the high pressure chamber, a first coupling means isprovided for fluid communication between the large inlet opening and asource of pressurized water. Preferably, this first coupling meanscomprises a swivelling, rocker lug inlet coupling 12. One preferredcoupling mechanism is a Model No. 53 RL, 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy,hardcoated coupling with a Higby cut. This coupling includes a 1.5 inchswivelling female, National Standard Thread (NH), and rocker lugs withmesh alignment mark, to rigid 2.5 inch female, Iron Pipe Thread (NPSH),rocker lugs. The rocker lugs permit the use of common hose couplingspanners. The Higby cut permits alignment of hose threads forinstantaneous meshing. This coupling can be purchased from RedheadBrass, Inc., Shreve, Ohio.

In preferred embodiments, the high pressure chamber 13 is equipped withsecond coupling means which includes a plurality of outlet tubes, suchas elbows 16 extending from the high pressure chamber 13 and havingportions disposed generally axially with the high pressure chamber 13.Preferably, the elbows 16 are 0.75 inch NPT, 90°, schedule 40, blackiron street elbows, available from ITT Grinnell.

The elbows 16 are preferably equipped with shut-off valves 17.Preferably, these shut-off valves 17 include individual valve controls,such as FIG. 1550 WH, bar stock ball valves made of brass and includinga 90° operating range and 0.75 inch NPT inlets and outlets. These valvesalso include 0.49 inch diameter ball orifices, and a ball positionindicating gull wing handle. These ball valves are considered large ballorifices for low pressure loss, and have renewable valve seals for longwear. The gull wing handles aid in keeping the design compact, but areeasy to use. Such valves are available from ITT Grinnell.

Fitted to the outlet end of the shut-off valves 17 are preferred quickdisconnect couplings 15. These couplings 15 are specially fitted toaccommodate standard garden hose quick connect couplings for permittingextremely fast set-up and break-down. Preferably, the quick disconnectcouplings include No. 09QC female GHT to female collars and ballretainer sockets having a male nipple to male GHT. They are preferablyconstructed of brass or copper and can be obtained from Gilmore,Somerset, Pa.

To support the body of the fire hose manifold 55, a support structuresuitable for supporting the fire hose manifold 55 above a generally flatsurface is provided. This support structure preferably includes a pairof stainless steel, or other suitable corrosion-resistant material, legloops 14. In the preferred embodiment, 0.125 inch thick X inch widestainless steel bars are bent in a triangular shape and then welded tothe lower portion of the high pressure chamber 13.

The preferred fire hose manifold 55 is constructed by first welding theend plug 11 to the body 18, preferably with a 0.125 inch diameter,flux-coated, stainless steel, E316L welding wire, although Tungsten orMetal Inert Gas welding would also be suitable. The inlet swivelling,rocker lug coupling 12 is then threaded, preferably with Teflon® ribbon,onto the threaded portion of the body 18. The elbows 16 are then weldedonto the body 18 in communication with the apertures through the sidewall of the body and the shut-off valves 17 are threaded with ribbon topipe-to-coupling adapters, which are, in turn, threaded to quickdisconnect couplings 15 on each elbow 16. The leg loops 14 are thenwelded by known techniques to the bottom of the body 18 to provide asuitable stand.

The surfaces of the fire hose manifold 55 are preferably coated tofurther reduce the incidence of corrosion. The exterior finishpreferably includes two coats of cold galvanizing gray primer paint. Asuitable product is Demkote 2W013B, from Dayton Electric ManufacturingCompany, Chicago, Ill. Following the cold galvanizing paint coat, an allpurpose gray primer coat is then applied, preferably Paint No. 1318 fromBorden, Inc., Department HPPG-Krylon, Columbus, Ohio. In keeping withstandard fire fighting colors, two coats of Cherry Red No. 2101 are thenapplied as an exterior surface finish. This paint product is alsooffered by Borden, Inc.

The interior of the body and elbow are preferably coated with one ormore coats of white Color Guard Rubber Coating No. 81925, available fromPermatex Industrial Corporation, 10 Tower Lane, Avon Park South, Avon,Conn.

The fire hose manifolds of this invention are ideally suited forhazardous material decontamination applications. With reference to FIG.4, there is shown a HAZMAT area having a hot zone 10 and warm zone 50.The hot zone is designated and marked off for the entry team only andcontains the region proximate to the spill, for example, toxic liquid 20leaking from barrel 25. The hot zone may contain a plurality of showerstalls 30 and personal protective equipment cleansing pools 40. Thepurpose of these personnel decontamination sites is to cleanse thepersonal protective equipment of the fire fighters prior to their exitthrough the single passageway 60.

As described in FIG. 4, the manifold 55 can be equipped with a pluralityof garden hoses 45. Such garden hoses typically include brass fittings,and preferably include a quick disconnect type coupling, and inexpensivepolymeric conduit or tubing, which is preferably reinforced to accepthigher pressures. These garden hoses can be connected quickly throughthe quick disconnect couplings 15 and then introduced into the hot zoneto provide water to the personal protective equipment cleansing pools 40or shower stalls 30. Similarly, these garden hoses can be fitted to awater jet nozzle or gun for cleaning the spill 20. Ideally, the inletend or the rocker lug inlet coupling 12 of the manifold 55 is harnessedto a standard 1.5 inch durable light-weight fire hose which is mountedto a fire hose pumper on the fire truck.

Although hazardous material zones are illustrated, the manifold 55 ofthis invention could equally be employed for standard fire fightingduties, for example, cleaning smoke contaminated personal protectiveequipment of fire fighters during a routine fire containment operation,or providing cooling or flame quenching water through standard gardenhoses for typical fire fighting applications. Although these uses areenvisioned, the cost efficiency associated with converting the standardlight-weight fire hoses to garden hoses is most apparent in HAZMATapplications.

From the foregoing, it can be understood that this invention providesmanifold systems, suitable for many fire fighting applications, whichare especially suited to the treatment and containment of hazardousmaterial zones. These manifolds are light-weight, weighing less than 20pounds, and preferably about 11 pounds, and are linearly designed sothat the inlets and outlets are in substantially a straight line to savehose length and prevent kinking. Small diameter gardentype hoses canquickly be connected to these manifolds, without a significant loss inoperating pressure, and thereafter individually controlled withindividual shut off valves.

Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for thepurpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Variousmodifications, which will become apparent to one skilled in the art, arewithin the scope of this invention described in the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fire hose manifold suitable for emergencyimplementation by a fire fighter, comprising:a horizontally disposedcylindrical high pressure chamber having a large inlet opening and aplurality of independently regulated small outlet tubes extending fromsaid chamber and disposed radially around a central axis of saidchamber, said outlet tubes having outlet portions which aresubstantially parallel with said central axis; first coupling means forselectively providing fluid communication between said large inletopening and a source of pressurized water; second coupling means forselectively providing fluid communication between a portion of saidoutlet tubes and a fluid conduit; and support means for supporting saidchamber and outlet portions substantially horizontally above a flatsurface.
 2. The fire hose manifold of claim 1, wherein said source ofpressurized water comprises a fire hydrant or fire hose.
 3. The firehose manifold of claim 1, wherein said first coupling means comprises aswivelling, rocker lug inlet coupling.
 4. The fire hose manifold ofclaim 3, wherein said coupling is sized to accept a standard NationalStandard Thread fire hose.
 5. The fire hose manifold of claim 1, whereinsaid high pressure chamber comprises a first coupling threaded to afirst end and a capped portion fitted to a second end.
 6. The fire hosemanifold of claim 5, wherein said outlet tubes comprise quick disconnectcouplings.
 7. The fire hose manifold of claim 6, comprising four outlettubes.
 8. The fire hose manifold of claim 7, wherein each of said outlettubes comprise at least one shut off valve.
 9. A fire hose manifoldweighing less than 20 lbs. and suitable for emergency implementation byfire fighters, comprising:a horizontally disposed, high pressurecylinder having a large inlet opening and a plurality of small outletopenings therein; a first coupling for selectively providing fluidcommunication between said large inlet opening and a fire hose or firehydrant; a plurality of small outlet tubes extending from said pluralityof small outlet openings, each of said outlet tubes comprising a quickdisconnect coupling and a shut off valve for connecting said highpressure chamber to a small hose, said outlet tubes comprising curvedelbow portions having outlet portions disposed substantially parallelwith said high pressure cylinder; support means for supporting saidcylinder and outlet portions substantially horizontally above a flatsurface.
 10. A fire hose manifold, comprising:a horizontally disposed,cylindrical, high pressure chamber having a large inlet opening definedby a swivelling, rocker lug inlet coupling; a plurality of outlet tubesextending radially from said chamber and curved to provide outletportions disposed substantially parallel with said chamber, each of saidoutlet tubes comprising a quick disconnect coupling for connecting to astandard garden hose; and support means for supporting said chambersubstantially horizontally above a flat surface.
 11. A hazardousmaterial zone manifold system for emergency implementation by a firefighter, comprising:a horizontally disposed, high pressure chamberhaving an opening defined by a fire hose swivelling, rocker lug couplingand a plurality of outlet tubes extending radially from said chamber andcurved to provide outlet portions disposed substantially parallel withsaid chamber; said outlet tubes comprising individual connectorcouplings; at least one small hose connected to one of said connectorcouplings of said outlet tubes, said hose having an outlet within a hotzone of said hazardous material area; and support means for supportingsaid chamber and outlet portions substantially horizontally above a flatsurface.
 12. The fire hose manifold system of claim 11 furthercomprising a shower stall fitted to an outlet end of said small hose.13. The fire hose manifold system of claim 11 further comprising aplurality of garden hoses connected to said connector couplings of saidoutlet tubes.
 14. The fire hose manifold system of claim 13, wherein oneof said garden hoses is fitted to a personal protective equipmentwashing pool within said hot zone of a hazardous material zone.